At a conference in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, an executive from Facebook made the comment that Twitter users are much more tech savvy than “friends.” Well, that may be so, but of course Facebook is taking over the world as we know it, regardless. I mean … everyone is on Facebook, even the uncoolest of the uncool, right? … Case in point, I am there. But then again, @PingWiFi has been on Twitter for a bit too.

I guess there is something to be said for being ahead of the nerd curve …

In fact, as the PingWi-Fi.com bowl coverage comes to an end, I am reminded that PingWi-Fi was the first to tweet an entire bowl game from the pressbox, with the other “real” journalists.  (The Cotton Bowl followed suit a few days later I am told.)

Just a few years ago, some of the bowl representatives looked at us as if we were crazy when we requested press credentials.  Ha .. they still are pretty sure we are crazy, but they know us at least … every time we went to a bowl event this year, the media relations pros would shower the team with quirky, falsetto “ping … PING … ping … PINGs” Ha … music to our ears!

And what a bowl year … both of my teams won big games, and some other favorites made good showings.  What were the highlights of bowl season for PWF?  Hmmm … that is a toss up between NFL history and a near-death experience.

First, at the Armed Forces Bowl, over in SMU Ponyville, the game was over and the tweeting had gone like clockwork.  But, when I left the sidelines and headed up to the pressbox, I had a little situation in the media elevator.  As I got on, some guy pushed a huge silver, metal case on the elevator.  Immediately, I thought it was some pyrotechnics flashpod or something … because it sort of smelled like a firecracker fuse … and yes … it was still smoldering.

I am a reporter, and inquisitive by nature, so I said something like “What is that?  It is still smoking.” Ha … the dude said it was a big crate of pizza’s he was delivering to a stadium suite.  That sounded logical, so I would have just let it be … but I could see smoke going up into the lights of the elevator.  We were two floors from our destination, so I thought it was about to set off the fire alarms.  I guess the pizza dude could see I was worried to, so he opened the case to show me everything was okay.  Get this.  Someone had put open-flame sterno warmers in the case.  Five or six of the pizza boxes were on fire and kicking up flames.  “See … I knew this wasn’t right.”  Ha … the dude started beating the flames out with his bare hands, and luckily the elevator doors opened up.  But not until I smelled like a wood-fired gourmet pizza.

So that was fun.

Second … a brush with fame.  As I sat down in the pressbox at the old Cotton Bowl for the inaugural TicketCity Bowl … i noticed a well dressed gentleman beside me.  Hmmm … he looked familiar.  I think I would have known immediately that it was Bob Griese, the quarterback legend of that undefeated Miami Dolphins Super Bowl team of the ’70s … had he not been wearing reading glasses.  I apologized for being slightly starstruck and of course tweeted about the experience immediately unbeknownst to #12. But … wait a minute … Griese wore glassed on the field later on in his career … I just Googled.  He was even “legally blind’ in one eye.

I am wondering if he ever in his career disputed a call with an official and said something like, “Hey, I am legally blind, and even I saw what really happened.”

I digress …

See:

Griese Info.

Anywho … I tweeted about the audience with Griese, finishing with “we’re not worth.”  That was a typo, due to the NFL euphoria that overcame this journalist.

So … Are you on Twitter?  If so, feel free to follow @pingwifi, anytime.  If not, then no doubt you missed the PingWi-Fi.com tweets of The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl and more recently the TicketCity Bowl.

If interested — in the tweets or the game — this is just like we are lending you our notes from the game. Or maybe like reading the old school newspaper story the day after an event. Enjoy!

This is sort of a play by play in 140-character installments.  (Twitter doesn’t allow much room for verbosity.)  In journalism terms, it is like telling the entire story with a few headlines.That may be a good thing.  No matter how bad your train of thought is, it will be over in 140 characters.

Here is a sampling of the tweets:

Griese is reading his notes and charts preparing for the broadcast … Looks like a coaches playbook notes.

<ping>

YES .. I am having beans for breakfast at the #TicketCityBowl #ESPN in the Cotton Bowl Stadium pressbox, Breakfast of champions!

<ping>

Take the mike away! Somebody is yelling Happy New Years! on the PA system at the old Cotton Bowl.

<ping>

Did Texas Tech ever retake the #TTU hashtag, or do the party animals at TooTurnedUp still use it?

<ping>

Turn to page 48 in media guide & note that James Willis is listed as TT Defensive coordinator. Another curve ball!

(A reference to last year’s Alamo Bowl programs that listed Mike Leach as the Texas Tech head coach … long story.)

<ping>

Actually Sam McElroy will mentor the Texas Tech defense today.

<ping>

Anyone know if Defensive Coordinator Sam McElroy is related to Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy?

<ping>

At 11:11 on 1-1-11 I will intentionally bounce back and forth between the 1- and 11-yard lines just to say I did.

<ping>

Haven’t spotted Pirate flags or Team Leach shirts .. but just warming up. Do you think all 57,000 will boycott game?

<ping>

My learned sports colleague points out from the pressbox that the warm up looks like a little dance party!

<ping>

I heard that one TV guy is wearing Mike Leach roper boots at the game today???

<ping>

What questions should I have asked Mr. Griese? “Why a football team named after a fish?”

(Note: a follower on Twitter actually thought I was serious and corrected me, stating that a dolphin is actually a very astute mammal. LOL)

<ping>

YES! I have tallied two great “That’s What She Said” moments in the pressbox today!

(Reference to The Office, ongoing joke …)

<ping>

Just let me kudo the old Cotton Bowl pressbox, 3 Wi-Fi hotspots up and running for the media!

<ping>

And of course QB/wildcatter Steven Sheffiled is pretty cool wearing #1 on 1-1-11
And for equal time kicker Stefan Demos of Northwestern is also sporting #1 on 1-1-11, in purple.

( Note: What were the chances that on 1-1-11 … Texas Tech actually had TWO #1s — Terrence Bullitt and Steven Sheffield, so the #1 for Northwestern makes three. The Beatles called it: “One and one and one make three…”

<ping>

Security kid in pressbox looks hungover, sleeping. Ha .. doesn’t know about the pizza box fire at my other bowl game.

<ping>

Let the game begin! First ever kick off for the TicketCity Bowl!

<ping>

Pott’s arm looks much stronger from the sideline!

<ping>

Tech’s offense stretched from sideline to sideline
Ping was just about run over when Northwestern’s QB ran out of bounds!

(Note: PingWi-Fi team worked the sidelines and the press box.)

<ping>

Touchdown Texas Tech!

<ping>

Northwestern QB ran the QB option with pitch, an old Cotton Bowl tradition

<ping>

You can hear the Tech fans taunting on the sideline “Adam James you s….”

<ping>

Bront Bird had 4 tackles in the 1st quarter

<ping>

Bront Bird is down on the field. . .he’s the heart of the Tech defense

<ping>

Northwestern makes a touchdown making the score 10-6

<ping>

Potts carries it in for a touchdown! First touchdown reception by Potts

(Note: see video on this site …)

<ping>
Yes, there were 2 Team Leachers on the sidelines, both behaving!

(Reference to Facebook group that attracted more than 50,000 to celebrate Coach Mike Leach’s success at Texas Tech … before his untimely firing.)

<ping>
Potts completes to Leong, first down on 29

<ping>

Learned colleague points out there is no yellow line on the field, like on TV

<ping>

Potts completes to Detron Lewis for first down.

<ping>

Potts to Leong, 6 yard touchdown pass, 24-6

<ping>

I was standing at the right place at the right time, got Potts TD reception on video to post later

(Note: true to our word, we did.)

<ping>

Beginning of the 3rd quarter, 24-6 Tech. Northwestern has the ball

<ping>

Northwestern’s field goal attempt is good, 24-9

<ping>

2nd longest touchdown run in bowl game history here at the Cotton Bowl Stadium!

<ping>

Northwestern scores making it 31-15, Tech

<ping>

Last play is under review…

<ping>

Having some wifi issues…score is 31-17 Tech

<ping>

Touchdown Tech! The kick is good! 17-38

<ping>

Touchdown, Northwestern! 23-38

<ping>

End of the 3rd, 38-24, Tech

<ping>

#8, Demetrius Fields makes a reception for a touchdown – Northwestern
38-30, Tech

<ping>

Northwestern’s Bates #7, down on the field, son of Bill Bates former Dallas Cowboy

<ping>

Touchdown Tech!

<ping>

44-31 Tech

<ping>

40,121 in attendance today here at the Cotton Bowl Stadium

(So my half-full estimate was optimistic.)

<ping>

Ball intercepted by #26 Jordan Mabin, touchdown Northwestern

<ping>

38-45 after the kick

<ping>

14 seconds on the clock and the last play is under review

<ping>

Tech intercepts the ball and the game is over! 45-38 Tech

ping … PING … ping … and that’s the way it was.

Know what I sayin?